Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 2022)
FEBRUARY 11, 2022, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3 COVID restrictions loosen throughout county, state By JOEY CAPPELLETTI Of the Keizertimes State health offi cials announced in a press release Monday, Feb. 7 that mask requirements for indoor public places and schools would be removed no later than March 31, with the possibility of the requirement being lifted sooner. “We should see COVID-19 hospi- talizations drop by the end of March because so many Oregonians are wear- ing masks and taking other steps to pro- tect themselves and each other, such as getting a booster shot or vaccinating their children. At that point, it will be safer to lift mask requirements,” said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state epidemiolo- gist, in a statement. According to the Feb. 7 press release from the Oregon Health Authority, health scientists expect 400 or fewer Oregonians will be hospitalized with COVID by the end of March — the number of hospitalizations in the state prior to the Omicron variant. If Oregon reaches 400 or fewer hos- pitalizations prior to March 31, state health offi cials said they would con- sider lifting the indoor require- ment sooner. Masks will We should see COVID-19 continue to be hospitalizations drop by required within schools until the end of March because March 31 to give so many Oregonians are school districts time to prepare. wearing masks and taking “State health steps to protect themselves offi cials say Oregon needs and each other . . . to keep mask requirements in place for now as COVID- 19 hospital- izations crest State Epidemiologist and Oregon’s health care — DR. DEAN SIDELINGER system strains to treat high numbers of severely ill patients,” the release said. With the state’s temporary indoor mask mandate set to expire on Feb. 8, health offi cials fi led a permanent new rule with the Oregon Secretary of State to require that masks be worn while indoors in public places. Health offi - cials said the permanent rule was “the only way health offi cials could extend the current temporary mask rule past its expiration date and until mask rules would no longer be needed.” While daily COVID cases have con- tinued to decrease across Oregon, as of Feb. 8, there were still 1,055 Oregonians hospitalized due to COVID. The release said that current models show hospital- izations peaking at 1,169 before declin- ing throughout February and March. The Marion County Health and Human Services also announced Tuesday, Feb. 8 that they would stop doing COVID case investigations. Going forward, this means individuals that test positive for COVID should no longer expect a call or letter in the mail. In the press release, the county Health and Human Services said they will no longer provide return to work letters or work restriction letters for an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19. The department said indi- viduals should work with health pro- viders and their employer to come up with a return-to-work date. “If you have symptoms, even if you are vaccinated and especially if you can’t get a test, you should stay home and isolate to prevent potentially spreading it to others,” the release said. “You can also help by doing your own contact tracing. Contact the people you were in close contact with beginning two days before your symptoms began. Call, email, or text close contacts as soon as possible.” The department reiterated that the best way to prevent getting COVID is by getting vaccinated. People can visit https://www.co.marion.or.us/HLT/ COVID-19/Pages/Default.aspx to fi nd vaccination locations near them. V a l e n t i n e ’ s D a y i s M o n d a y , F e b . 14 Don’t Forget Diamonds R omance EXPERTS THE Always Free Gift Wrapping We Will T Take C Care of Y You and Yours 4965 River Rd N • Keizer | 503-393-0701 | MON – FRI: 10 to 5, SAT: 10 to 4